Moto Mods - a complete list of all modules. Motorola introduced the Moto Z2 Play smartphone and several new MotoMods
Moto Z is the top series of the product line Motorola Moto, which first appeared last year. It is logical that this year the time has come for the heirs of last year’s models. In this review, we'll introduce you to the Moto Z2 Play, the successor to the Moto Z Play, which was the most affordable model in the lineup. The Moto Z2 Play has gone up a bit in price, bringing the device closer to the top models on the market. The changes compared to its predecessor lie primarily in the design, which is now based entirely on metal. In addition, the device has a thinner profile. Dimensions and 5.5-inch screen were retained because, like all other products in the Moto Z line, Moto Z2 Play is compatible with so-called Moto Mods, which we will talk about below. The smartphone also has a new processor, a new camera and a new battery, and all this, of course, will pass our tests.
Motorola Moto Z2 Play price
The current average price of a smartphone is 27,000 - 28,000 rubles. More expensive than Samsung Galaxy A5, but also more interesting.Construction and design
At first glance it looks similar to its predecessor from last year, but in fact has some key design differences. For example, the glass back has been replaced with metal. Glass or metal is of course a matter of taste (I personally am for metal), but in any case, the Moto Z2 Play looks stylish and, unlike glass, does not collect fingerprints on the body. The thickness of the smartphone is reduced and is only 6 millimeters. The reduction also affects the weight of 145 grams, which is unusual for a 5.5-inch smartphone.
Some people might not like that the rear camera is sticking out again, and it's quite noticeable. However, if you add a Moto back cover, that protruding camera won't bother you much. Also on the back of the smartphone there is a dual LED flash, a Moto logo and a 16-pin area at the bottom, which is needed to connect Moto modules. On the front side there is a dual LED flash, which should appeal to selfie lovers. Next to the flash are the front camera, proximity and light sensors, a speaker and a small inscription below it. Also in front, but at the bottom, there is a fingerprint sensor and a conversational microphone. 
Although the smartphone is very thin, everything you need is on the sides. On the right side there are three identical physical buttons, the first two are for audio controls and the third is the power button, which has a rough surface to differentiate it from the others. They all provide convenient control device. Below you will find a standard headphone jack as well as a charging port USB Type-C. At the top there are two nano SIM slots and a separate card slot microSD memory. There is a second built-in microphone on this side. 
Moto Mods
One of the highlights of the entire Moto Z line is the ability to add various Moto modules, and this is done extremely simply thanks to the already mentioned 16 pins on the back of the smartphone and powerful magnets. You can attach or remove modules with absolute ease, and there is no serious danger of them accidentally falling out. These modules can be like different back plates to change appearance your smartphone, as well as various improvements, such as an additional speaker, a projector(!) or additional camera 360 degrees. Motorola promises that it will create more modules that will be compatible with all Moto Z models, including future ones. However, each of them costs a lot, so creating a superphone will not particularly please your wallet. Below we offer you a short video in which you can see how Moto Mods are connected to last year’s Moto Z, and how simple and fast it is.
Screen
The screen size of the Motorola Moto Z2 Play is 5.5 inches, just like other Moto Z models. The resolution is 1920 x 1080 pixels, which despite the screen size will give you nice picture. The pixel density is around 403 pixels per inch. Another notable advantage of the smartphone is the Super AMOLED matrix, which guarantees a high level of contrast and excellent performance outdoors under the rays of the sun. Plus, the screen can boast wide viewing angles as expected. In the display settings menu, in addition to the standard ones, you will also find the ability to switch to a more saturated color mode.Specifications Motorola Moto Z2 Play
| operating system | Android 7.1.1 (Nougate), planned update to Android 8.0 (Oreo) |
|---|---|
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 MSM8953-Pro (8-core, 2.20 GHz, Cortex-A53) |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Internal memory | 64 GB |
| GPU | Adreno 506 |
| Screen | 5.5" Super AMOLED capacitive multi-touch screen with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution |
| Connection | Bluetooth v4.0, A2DP, LE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, GPS, A-GPS |
| Cameras | main 12-megapixel with autofocus, dual LED flash, front 5-megapixel |
| Additionally |
|
| Battery | 3000 mAh |
| Dimensions | 76.2 x 156.2 x 6 mm |
| Weight | 145 g |
Battery
Unsurprisingly, the battery in the Motorola Moto Z2 Play has a slightly lower capacity than its predecessor, since the smartphone is thinner. In the case of the 2017 model, we are talking about a 3000 mAh battery, compared to 3510 mAh for last year's model. However, this does not always guarantee a large time difference battery life. To test the smartphone's battery life, we conducted five endurance tests that include phone calls, Wi-Fi and 3G surfing, video viewing and 3D gaming. To make a fair comparison with other competing models, we also installed following settings: screen brightness 120 cd/m2, off Wi-Fi module, GPS, 3G and Bluetooth are disabled (except for the 3G surfing test).Battery testing, comparison with Samsung Galaxy A5 2017 and Moto Z Play
Telephone conversation
Internet surfing with Wi-Fi
For testing, we use our script, which automatically turns over 70 web pages. Internet surfing with 4G
In this test we are using the same script again, but this time we are connecting via a 4G connection. Watch video
Here we are using HD 720p movie. 3D games
We play Epic Citadel. In general, as you can see, the Motorola Moto Z2 Play “can do it.” In almost all respects, it outperformed last year’s model, and what’s most interesting, it confidently outperformed its competitor in the 2017 Samsung Galaxy A5 (also a very interesting phone, but more “conservative”) Software
Motorola Moto Z2 Play runs on the Android 7.1 Nougat operating system and comes with a clean version without an additional proprietary shell. However, there are many additional applications beyond the standard Google package.Performance
The Motorola Moto Z2 Play is powered by the Snapdragon 626, which boasts a 14nm process (not the most advanced in 2017, but not the oldest either). It has eight Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 2.2GHz, which is the main difference from the Snapdragon 625-based Moto Z Play. The chip has an X9 modem that powers Cat. 7 LTE, or in other words, download speeds of up to 300 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 150 Mbps. The Snapdragon 625 also supports Wi-Fi 802.11ac, NFC, Quick Charge 3.0 Fast Charge Technology, Full HD, up to 24 megapixel camera and 4K video recording. Graphics are processed by the Adreno 506 chip. RAM is 3 GB. In terms of battery life, the chip appears to be quite efficient based on battery test results. The internal memory is 32 GB, with 13 GB occupied by operating system files. There is also a microSD slot supporting cards up to 256 GB.CPU testing
Geekbench 3.0 (multi-core)
Geekbench 3 is a cross-platform benchmark from Primate Labs designed to measure chip performance in real-world scenarios, loading both single-threaded and multi-threaded processes. Vellamo 3 Metal
Vellamo is a qualitative test developed by Qualcomm specifically to test the computing capabilities of chips. Vellamo 2 Metal
What can we say about the processor testing results? Nothing incredible, it’s clear that this is a medium-power chip, which is far from the flagships, even last year’s. Graphics chip testing
GFXBench 2.7 (T-Rex, Offscreen)
GFXBench 2.7 is a heavy-duty cross-platform 3D benchmark test that supports Android, iOS and even Windows operating systems. GFXBench 3.0 (Manhattan, Offscreen)
The Manhattan 3.0 benchmark is based on ES 3.0/GL 4.1 and uses deferred rendering and multi-resistant target (MRT). It also includes complex effects such as shadow depth map, masking effect, post-processing effects, occlusion query and animated volumetric light shafts. 3DMark (Ice Storm Unlimited)
3DMark uses fixed interval frames and displays the same frames for each test on each device. It runs at 720p resolution (regardless of the specific device resolution). Graphics testing is similar to CPU testing. The results are average, even far from last year’s flagships, but the Motorola Moto Z2 Play is not inferior to competitors such as the 2017 Samsung Galaxy A5. Operating temperature
After testing compute and graphics performance, we measure case temperature, which shows how hot the device gets after heavy 3D gaming workload. After several hours of gaming, we check the maximum temperatures in three different areas on the back of the smartphone. The hottest spot was in the chamber area, where the temperature reached 32.1 degrees. This, of course, is nonsense. Let me remind you that the body temperature is 36 degrees and the phone could simply be heated by hands. Thus, we can safely say that the Moto Z2 Play does not have any overheating problems. This is also facilitated by the metal body of the smartphone.
Camera Motorola Moto Z2 Play
The main camera of the Motorola Moto Z2 Play now has a resolution of 12 megapixels, as opposed to the 16 megapixels of its predecessor. However, it has an f/1.7 aperture that provides 25% more light. There's also dual-LED flash and laser autofocus to consider. As for the modes and settings in Moto Z2 Play, there are not many of them, but you will find HDR, Panorama, several standard settings and a Pro mode that lets you customize settings like white balance, ISO, and other settings that enthusiasts will love. Last but not least, the smartphone can record 4K videos at 30fps as well as slow-motion videos. The front camera has a resolution of 5 megapixels (which is not a lot by modern standards, take the same) and is equipped with a dual LED flash. It has an f/2.2 aperture and 1080p HD video recording. Examples of photos taken on Motorola Moto Z2 Play
Conclusion - does it make sense to buy?
Moto Z2 Play is a worthy successor to the Z Play smartphone. It will amaze you with its extremely thin profile and all-metal construction. The main camera protrudes noticeably, but this is to some extent understandable given the thickness of 6 mm. It is also possible to add Moto Mods, which can change the appearance of the smartphone or give it capabilities that cannot be obtained from other smartphones, such as a projector or a 360-degree camera. This is a 2017 model, so it is not surprising that the smartphone is equipped USB port Type-C, fingerprint sensor and operating Android system 7.1 Nougat, and an update to Android 8 Oreo is also planned. There are also special Moto applications with various functions that improve and facilitate the use of the device. The model's battery is 3000 mAh, but the smartphone surprised us with its rather good battery life. The smartphone has good performance thanks to the Snapdragon 626 mobile chip, while maintaining a low body temperature after prolonged use. The camera has an upgrade of 12 megapixels and an f/1.7 aperture. Photos taken with a smartphone are quite good.Pros of Motorola Moto Z2 Play
- Stylish metal design and 6mm thickness
- Ability to add various Moto Mods
- Fingerprint sensor and USB Type-C port
- Continuous work batteries
- Pure Android 7.1 Nougat + several additional functions Moto
- Low temperature body after prolonged load
- 12-megapixel camera with f/1.7 aperture, laser autofocus and 4K video recording
Cons
- Very protruding camera
- Increased cost compared to its predecessor
Review from the owner of Motorola Moto Z2 Play, opinion about Moto Mods
Finally, we suggest you look at this interesting review from the owner and his opinion about Moto Mods.In 2016, not only the flagship Lenovo Moto Z Force was very popular, but also the Moto Z2 Play, a smartphone with high performance and long-lasting operation.
This year, an updated Moto Z2 Play model was released with improved hardware and an increased price. What can it offer new version phone and is the increased price justified?
Let's find out!
The simple look of the original Z Play has been retained, although the rear panel now comes in two tones, with gray and gold available instead of black.
The paired volume rocker is located on the right side, above the power button. Unlike the flagship Moto series Z, on the Z2 and Z Play there is still a headphone jack - at the bottom, next to the USB Type-C port. On the front panel there is a camera flash and a fingerprint scanner.
5.5-inch AMOLED- Moto display Z2 Play has a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels. Colors are vibrant and accurate, and images are sharp. There is a lot of free space around the screen, the body thickness is 5.99 mm, which is 1.01 mm thinner than its predecessor. The weight has been reduced by 20 grams, but there is still a camera protrusion on the rear panel, which prevents the Z2 Play from lying flat on a surface.
Branded Moto Mods, which are attached to the back panel using magnets, are still supported. For example, JBL SoundBoost adds a powerful speaker, and Hasselblad True Zoom will turn your smartphone into a full-fledged camera. There are also simpler modules that change the design or increase battery life.
Modules are a convenient and useful feature Moto Z series, they work almost flawlessly, although sometimes there is a noticeable gap between them and the cover. All modules are expensive: JBL SoundBoost and Mophie Juice Pack are available for $80 (RUR 4,800), Incipio Power Pack from $64 (RUR 3,800), Incipio Vehicle Dock - $65 (RUR 3,900), and Hasselblad Mod and projector module will cost $300 (RUR 18,000) each.
Performance and operating system
The Moto Z2 Play smartphone handles everyday tasks with ease: exchanging emails and messages, browsing the web or visiting social networks. Performance is provided by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 processor and 3 GB of RAM.
The system does not freeze when launching applications, navigating, when splitting the screen in multitasking mode or playing games like Breakneck, Sup. However, the performance is not enough for games like Batman - The Telltale Series or other resource-intensive productions.
The new Z2 Play scored 66,687 points in the benchmark AnTuTu test, 3,183 in Geekbench 4 Compute and 464 points in 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme. For comparison, the $750 Samsung Galaxy S8 scored 155,253 points in AnTuTu, the $400 ZTE Axon 7 scored 142,672 points, and the $230 Moto G5 Plus scored 63,190 points.
The lack of visual modifications in Android 7.1.1 Nougat increases the speed of the system. The OS is very similar stock android, like on Google Pixel, only with useful innovations. Moto Actions gestures are supported, allowing you to launch the camera with a double turn of the wrist, stop a call by lifting the phone, and so on. When One Button Nav mode is enabled, the fingerprint scanner will be used as the Home button instead of the Android on-screen buttons.
Moto Voice is similar to Samsung's Bixby, but with fewer features. There is no need for special trigger words like “OK Google” to launch it. Just say “Show me Chrome” to Chrome icon appeared at the top of the screen - move it down and the application will open.
The Moto Z2 Play assistant works with all installed programs if the environment is not noisy. Although you should be careful - to gain access to the controls, it is enough to imitate a person’s voice.
To open the Verizon AppFlash app, which replaces Google Now, swipe right on the Home screen. There is also Google Assistant to manage supported smart devices.
With all the advantages of the updated Moto Z2 Play software, avid gamers are better off choosing a more powerful smartphone - for example, OnePlus 5.
At daylight The Moto Z2 Play's 12-megapixel rear camera produces detailed photos with accurate colors. In Pro mode, you have full control over the parameters. There is a noticeable shutter lag, which results in blurry images even in sufficient lighting.
There's no optical image stabilization, so you'll need to hold the Z2 Play camera steady. In low light conditions it's even worse - the images are either very blurry or noisy.
The front 5-megapixel camera with flash is not surprising at all. Beauty modes are supported.
Smartphone battery
The original Moto Z Play had a very durable battery, capable of lasting almost 2 days on a single charge, even with heavy use.
The Moto Z2 Play has a better battery than most competitors, however, to reduce the thickness, the capacity had to be reduced from 3,510 mAh to 3,000 mAh. Under intense load from morning to evening, the battery is discharged to 45%; under moderate load, it will work for at least 2 days.
TurboPower fast charging technology allows you to charge in 15 minutes Moto smartphone from 30 to 47%. Not as impressive as Dash Charge on the OnePlus 5, but still fast.
Bottom line
The Moto Z2 Play has a durable battery and useful modules, but for this you will have to pay about $500 (RUB 29,700), which is unreasonably high, in my opinion. For comparison, OnePlus 5 for $480 (RUR 28,500) better camera and performance, and the operating system is at least no worse. The $400 ZTE Axon 7, released last year, is now even cheaper and has a more powerful Snapdragon 820 processor.
The new Z2 Play also has problems with durability. Motorola (Lenova) supports its devices for two years or less. Android updates, will probably come out, but we can't be sure of the transition to Android Oreo. The smartphone is not water-resistant, but the lack of glass on the back makes it less sensitive to shock.
Benefits of Moto Z2 Play
- Long lasting battery
- Good performance
- Compatible with Moto Mods
- User-friendly interface
Disadvantages of Z2 Play
- Overpriced
- Camera shutter delay
New phone Moto Z2 Play - video review
If you find an error, the video does not work, please select a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.
Not long ago, Lenovo bought the rights to use the Motorola brand. At one time, these phones were very popular, surprising users with excellent innovative design and capabilities. The new smartphone released under this brand, called Moto Z2 Play, was no exception. The device is equipped with a powerful processor, a large amount of memory and the ability to use special modules that will expand the functionality of the smartphone. This combination of characteristics undoubtedly arouses the interest of many users, so we will devote today’s review to modular smartphone from Motorola.
Appearance and packaging of Moto Z2 Play
Like most modern smartphones The Moto Z2 Play comes in a cardboard box and has the following standard contents:
- the phone itself;
- charger with fast charging function;
- wired stereo headset;
- clip;
- additional panel;
- technical documentation.
Most manufacturers of modern smartphones do not deviate from standard manufacturing templates, and each subsequent model is manufactured according to general scheme. Using an unusual case carries certain risks, so manufacturers strive to standardize the design of their devices. This model was no exception, although it received a number of certain features.
The front panel is protected by 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass, which is designed to preserve the screen and protect it from numerous mechanical damages. At the bottom there is a mechanical control button similar to those used by Samsung. One of the features of this button is that it combines the function of a fingerprint scanner. The sensor works quite quickly, but if your fingers are dirty or wet, problems may arise with their recognition. In addition, long pressing the button locks the phone screen, which also makes working with the smartphone easier. On top there is a 5 megapixel front camera lens, speaker, flash and sensor, thanks to which the screen backlight turns on automatically when a hand approaches.
The rear panel houses the main camera lens. Unlike most modern devices, the Motorola Moto Z2 Play smartphone has a huge round module that protrudes from the body for a considerable distance. The solution is quite non-standard, considering the fact that it creates certain inconveniences during use, clinging to pockets or clothes. This defect can be corrected using an additional panel. Also located at the bottom is a contact panel, which is used to connect additional modules. We will dwell on this point in our review later.
At the top end the manufacturer placed a compartment for 2 SIM cards and a memory card. At the bottom there is a USB-C 3.1 connector for connecting the power cable and standard input for headphones.
The main feature of the Moto Z2 Play smartphone is its thickness. It is, as we have already said, only 5.99 millimeters. The previous model was also quite thin, but this time the smartphone exceeded all expectations. As for other parameters: length - 156.2, width - 76.2. The weight of the smartphone is only 145 grams, which is achieved through the combined use of metal and plastic. The smartphone comes in two colors: lunar gray and gold. The colors are quite restrained.
Moto Z2 Play display
Lenovo has equipped its Moto Z2 Play smartphone with a modern Super AMOLED screen with the most popular diagonal today - 5.5 inches. The display has FullHD resolution (1920x1080). Usage Super technology AMOLED gives the screen the following advantages:
- excellent color rendition and support for up to 16 million colors;
- good pixel density (401 ppi), which provides excellent quality pictures;
- decent viewing angles;
- high energy efficiency.
Among the interesting features of the screen is the presence of the “Moto display” function. It allows the user to view notifications and time without activating the screen backlight. The use of this technology increases the battery life of the device.
Moto Z2 Play Specifications
Despite the fact that this device is available with several hardware options, only the version with 4 gigabytes of RAM and 64 gigabytes of built-in memory will be presented to the Russian market. Memory expansion is possible through the use of a flash card, the volume of which can be up to 2 terabytes.
The Motorola Mobile Computing system is responsible for the data processing speed of the device. Qualcomm processor Snapdragon 626 has 8 active cores with a frequency of up to 2.2 GHz. This chipset can hardly be called powerful and fast, since it is only a slightly overclocked version of the 625. However, in combination with a large amount of RAM, the Moto Z2 Play smartphone shows good performance and multitasking. Graphic information is processed by the Adreno 506 accelerator. In general, it is a weak representative of its class. You shouldn't expect outstanding performance from him.
The device was tested on the following games:
- Doodle Jump;
- Lara Croft
- Godfire: Rise of Prometheus;
- World of Tanks Blitz.
The operating system is Android version 7.1.1 without any third-party shell. The system is completely cleared of any third-party interference, thereby giving the user the opportunity to either enjoy a clean version or independently change it at will. The menu allows you to configure voice commands to control your smartphone, but traditionally there is no support for the Russian language.
In general, the operating system works very quickly, without brakes or lags, there are flexible options for customization and adjustment to your own needs. To summarize, we can say that in terms of performance, the Moto Z2 Play has good characteristics.
Multimedia capabilities of Moto Z2 Play
The phone is equipped with one speaker. The sound is not particularly loud, but quite clear. At high volume the speaker does not wheeze, extraneous noise not noticed. Listen to music via quality headphones a pleasure. The sound will pleasantly surprise even the most arrogant music lovers.
The manufacturer did not focus on the camera. There are two of them:
- 12 megapixel main;
- 5 megapixel front.
The front camera is also simple. If the main camera uses a Sony IMX362 Exmor RS sensor, then the front camera uses an OmniVision OV5693. One of the advantages is the presence of a flash. For lovers of selfies at night, this will be a nice addition. Pictures are taken with a maximum resolution of 2592x1944, and video - 1920x1080.
Moto Z2 Play: review of wireless interfaces
This model includes the following wireless modules:
- Wi-Fi 802.11 (2.4/5 GHz);
- Bluetooth 4.2LE;
- A-GPS;
- GLONASS.
Moto Z2 Play smartphone in offline mode
Let's finish our review of Motorola Moto Z2 Play characteristics autonomy. Compared to previous version, the new device has lost battery capacity. It now has a rather modest 3000 mAh. Capacity had to be sacrificed for the sake of even an overly thin body.
However, it should be noted that the small battery shows excellent battery life:
- 6 hours of screen operation;
- 14 hours of video at full brightness with maximum resolution;
- 12 hours of work with games.
Moto Z2 Play Modules
Most main feature The device is the presence of plug-ins. The company plans to support the model by releasing new, more interesting additions. They are not included in the package and will have to be purchased separately. Now we will look at 4 main modules, but others are also available for sale:
- Hasselblad True Zoom. This module is simply indispensable for those who like to use a smartphone as a camera. This photo module allows you to turn your phone into a real camera with 10x zoom. A company that specializes in the production of photographic equipment is responsible for the development. Hasselblad True Zoom is additionally equipped with a xenon flash, as well as optical zoom. Its dimensions are 152.3x72.9x9–15.1 mm, and its weight is 145 grams. When using it, the device becomes almost 3 times thicker. Activation occurs in a few seconds. The module has a traditional camera button arrangement. Filming takes place through standard application. The main advantage of the add-on is the presence of zoom and optical stabilization. Thanks to its use, the final photos are a solid 5-star. Of course, it cannot be compared with SLR cameras, but the functionality of the base camera increases significantly. One of the disadvantages is the lack of its own battery. It is worth noting that 100 shots consumes approximately 30 percent of the total battery charge of the Moto Z2 Play smartphone. Not such a bad indicator.
- Insta-Share Projector. This module turns your smartphone into a full-fledged projector that can project images on a screen up to 70 inches. Its dimensions are 153x74x11 mm, and its weight is 125 grams. The possibilities are quite sufficient for home use. In a dark room, the screen brightness (nominal 50 lumens) is sufficient and you can comfortably watch movies and videos. Contrast - 400 to 1. The lamp is designed for 10 thousand hours. The module has its own 1100 mAh battery, which is enough to continuously project video for 1 hour. No additional application installation required. Install Insta-Share Projector, place it in front of the screen, focus and enjoy the picture that appears. The add-on will automatically adjust the image.
- JBL Soundboost 2. It is a portable speaker for the Moto Z2 Play smartphone. The volume reserve of standard speakers is clearly not enough, so for those who like to listen to music on the street, in nature, or in an apartment with friends, this module is a must-have. Its volume can be up to 80 dB. Frequency range from 200 Hz to 20 kHz. There is a built-in battery with a capacity of 1000 mAh, which lasts for 10 hours continuous operation. The quality of the music is sufficient, however, at maximum volume there is still some wheezing. The total power of the speakers is 6 W. Dimensions of JBL Soundboost 2 are 152x73x14.5 mm, and weight is 135 grams. There is splash protection.
- Moto Turbo Power Pack. External battery at 3000 mAh. The module itself has acceptable dimensions and, unlike a portable speaker, does not make the smartphone bulky. But it will double the battery life. The only downside is the need to disconnect the module for charging. It is not possible to charge the main and additional batteries at the same time. There is support for fast charging function.
Moto Z2 Play: price, pros and cons
To summarize the review, I would like to note that in standard The only obvious advantages of the smartphone are its unusual design, high-quality screen and 4 gigabytes of RAM.
Among the striking disadvantages are:
- average productivity by modern standards;
- fairly weak standard cameras;
- battery with a small capacity.
The recommended price of Moto Z2 Play in Russia is 35,000 rubles. It’s far from the most budget option, since among Chinese analogues you can find devices with higher quality hardware. Whether the modular functionality of a smartphone is worth that kind of money is up to you to decide. Although the Moto Z2 Play had a release date in Russia back in June. Most of the modules are still not on sale, which is also not very encouraging. If necessary, they can be ordered from foreign online stores. More information about the device in the video below:
Announced last fall, the Moto Z Play became the most affordable smartphone in the Moto Z line. Like the older models, it supported the installation of Moto Mods, but had less powerful hardware and was therefore cheaper. Now the Moto Z Play has a successor, but owners of the previous model are unlikely to rush to buy it - the new product has received only minor improvements, and in some ways it has even become worse.
Design
All devices from last year's Moto Z line had a fairly original design. Some people liked it, some didn’t, but the fact that the devices stood out from most other smartphones was undeniable. The new Moto Z2 Play does not shine with originality: at first glance it looks almost indistinguishable from its predecessor, although there are still some changes. Firstly, the smartphone has become thinner. Just one millimeter, but taking into account the fact that the Moto Z Play couldn’t be called fat, the final result turned out to be quite good – 5.99 millimeters. The battery has become a victim of weight loss: its capacity is now 3000 milliamp-hours instead of the previous 3510. At first glance, the loss is not so significant, but according to the manufacturer, the Moto Z2 Play can work for 30 hours on a single battery charge - 20 hours less than original Z Play. 
As for the remaining changes, they are mainly cosmetic in nature. Thus, the fingerprint scanner located under the display has become oval, and the antenna has moved entirely to the side edges of the case.
Characteristics
In terms of technical characteristics The Moto Z2 Play is not much different from its predecessor. Like the previous model, the new product is equipped with a 5.5-inch Full HD display made using AMOLED technology. The processor, in fact, also remains the same - the new Snapdragon 626 differs from the Snapdragon 625 that was equipped with the Moto Z Play, basically only increased by 200 MHz frequency. There are no significant changes in the memory configuration: the basic version of the smartphone is still equipped with 3 GB of RAM and a 32 GB flash drive. But now those who wish will be able to purchase a more expensive version of the Moto Z2 Play with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage.
But Lenovo decided to use a different camera in the Moto Z2 Play and seems to have borrowed it from the Moto G5 Plus. At least in terms of characteristics, the modules are similar: 12 megapixels, f/1.7 aperture and the ability to shoot 4K video. A 5-megapixel sensor with wide-angle optics and flash is installed in front.
Key Features of Moto Z2 Play:
- 5.5″ AMOLED screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels (pixel density 401 ppi)
- Snapdragon 625 system-on-chip (8 Cortex-A53 processor cores clocked at 2200 MHz)
- Adreno 506 video core
- 3/4 gigabytes of LPDDR3 RAM
- 32/64 gigabytes of flash memory + support for Micro SD cards up to 1 TB
- 5 megapixel front camera with f/2.2 aperture, wide viewing angle and LED flash
- 12 megapixel rear camera with f/1.7 aperture, phase detection autofocus and dual LED flash
- 3000 mAh battery
- Android 7.1.1 Nougat
- support 3G, LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2 LE
- Navigation: GPS / A-GPS, GLONASS
- Sensors: proximity sensor, accelerometer, light sensor, gyroscope, fingerprint sensor, compass
- connectors: USB Type-C, 3.5 mm output for connecting a stereo headset
- case dimensions: 156.2 x 76.2 x 5.99 mm
- weight: 145 g
- body colors: gray, gold
Moto Mods
One of key features devices from the Moto Z line, it was and remains possible to install external Moto Mods modules that complement the standard functions of smartphones. For an additional fee, the manufacturer offers customers a camera with a Hasselblad True Zoom lens, a Moto Insta-Share Projector, an Incipio offGRID Power Pack battery and a JBL SoundBoost speaker. The Moto Z2 Play retained support for all these modules, but in addition to them, Lenovo announced several new products.
These included:
- Moto GamePad is a gamepad with two analog sticks and a 1035 milliamp-hour battery.
- JBL SoundBoost 2 is an improved version of the JBL SoundBoost sound module with two 3 W speakers, waterproof coating and a 1000 milliamp-hour battery.
- Moto TurboPower pack – external battery at 3490 milliamp-hours with the possibility of accelerated charging.
- Moto Style – wireless charging in four colors to choose from.
Lenovo announced the start of Russian sales of the youngest smartphone from the flagship Moto line in 2017 - Moto Z2 Play.
The device, which allows you to connect various modules to expand functionality, is already on sale at a recommended retail price of 34,990 rubles. At the same time, he announced the entry into the market of representatives of the new generation of Moto Mods: Moto GamePad for mobile games, JBL SoundBoost 2 for high-quality music playback, Moto TurboPower Pack and Moto Style for fast and convenient charging. True, they are not yet visible, maybe they will catch up one of these days.
The Z2 Play is no-nonsense in terms of specs and extremely thin in body - so much so that it even comes with a rear panel pad just to add thickness.
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The thickness of 5.99 mm was achieved by reducing the battery capacity relative to its predecessor. The battery in Moto Z2 Play has a capacity of 3000 mAh. Fast charging is supported - 15 minutes is enough to provide the device with 8 hours of operation.
The camera has been updated - a new 12-megapixel module with dual pixels, a hybrid focusing system and an ƒ/1.7 aperture allows you to receive high quality pictures under the most difficult shooting conditions. The front camera is 5 megapixel, equipped with its own dual-color flash. Both cameras have a professional shooting mode with a wide range of settings.
Reputable chipset - Snapdragon 626, RAM - 4 GB, storage - 64 GB. Despite the minimum thickness of the case, for microSD slot the place was found. Screen - 5.5" AMOLED, fullHD.
There are a variety of Moto-specific features, including Moto Voice for hands-free operation, and Night Display to quickly switch screen settings to eye-protection mode for easy reading in low light.
All this is extremely valuable, but what makes a smartphone especially attractive is the ability to quickly attach a component to it and, as a result, get a completely different device.
The Moto GamePad module will turn the device into a gaming console, equipped with two joysticks and a full set of control buttons. To prevent the fun from ending too quickly, the module has its own battery, thanks to which the playing time increases to 8 hours.
The updated SoundBoost from JBL will turn your smartphone into an audio system with the ability to customize the sound to suit different situations, music genres and personal preferences. The Moto Z2 Play equipped with it will be able to play music for up to 10 hours without recharging.
If you need to extend the operating time of your smartphone without recharging, the Moto TurboPower Pack will come in handy - an additional 3490 mAh battery that adds a whole day of battery life to the Moto Z2 Play and allows you to charge your smartphone's own battery in accelerated mode.
Moto Style Shell + Wireless Charge covers not only change the appearance of the device, but also add wireless charging functionality.
Only for some reason the price tags for this beauty have not yet been announced. However, not all of them are available for other markets: in particular, in the USA, the JBL SoundBoost 2 audio module is offered for $79.99, an overhead backrest with wireless charging- for $39.99, and prices for other new items from Moto Mods are not yet visible.
Basic Motorola specifications Moto Z2 Play: